Angry Manly fans petition Gallop for apology

MORE than 600 angry Sea Eagles fans have handed in a petition to NRL boss David Gallop demanding he apologise to Manly fullback Brett Stewart.

Angry Manly fans want the NRL to apologise to Brett Stewart.

The Manly Daily can reveal 666 agitated Sea Eagles supporters have signed the online petition calling on Gallop to apologise to Stewart for banning him for four matches in 2009.
The NRL suspended Stewart and fined the Sea Eagles $100,000 after claiming the player brought the game into disrepute following Manly’s 2009 season launch.
The petition, penned by passionate Manly fan Andrew Grant, has been directly emailed to Gallop. An NRL spokesperson confirmed Gallop had received the petition and would reply.
The petition, not endorsed or connected with the Sea Eagles, was set up by Manly fans online (www.silvertails.net).
The Stewart saga was reignited this week after Tigers star Benji Marshall was charged with assault in an alleged incident over the weekend.
“We are fair dinkum, we are going to agitate (the NRL) until it’s resolved,” Sunshine Coast-based Manly fan Andrew Grant said.
“Some people might say 650 is not a critical mass, but we’ll continue this. This is purely a fans’ revolt.
“This is not a call for Benji Marshall to be suspended, this is a call for Gallop to recognise the way he handled the Brett Stewart situation was wrong.”
An NRL spokesperson told the Daily that Gallop would respond directly to Grant.
“He will get a response, it’s as simple as that.”
Speaking before the NRL’s club members’ forum at the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre on Wednesday morning, Gallop was in no mood to talk about the Stewart case.
“Frankly, enough is enough on this issue, and we’re not going to revisit something that happened two years ago,” he said.
“Manly had every opportunity to appeal those decisions at the time and they didn’t. They need to read their own report furnished to us at the time.
“I think he (Stewart) needs to be allowed to focus on his football and everyone concerned should move on.”
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/angry-manly-fans-call-on-gallop-to-concede-he-was-wrong/